Latest News From Wyatt Bechtel

A male wolf in Washington has been killed by wildlife officials after its pack preyed on cattle three times in August.

The strength in the cattle market is largely due to strong beef demand.

Two feedlots in northeast Nebraska have reached a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following the discovery of manure runoff issues.

The economics of the cow-calf business involve three very important economic drivers.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved a kill permit for a wolf pack responsible for killing at least four calves this summer.

A man who stole a pickup and gooseneck trailer from a deceased rancher in Oklahoma has been sentenced to serve time in prison.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved a kill permit for a wolf pack responsible for killing at least four calves this summer.

A man who stole a pickup and gooseneck trailer from a deceased rancher in Oklahoma has been sentenced to serve time in prison.

Livestock diversity provides the opportunity for additional revenue.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office exhumed 11 head of cattle from a property after a dispute between two ranchers and a landowner.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office exhumed 11 head of cattle from a property after a dispute between two ranchers and a landowner.

A part of the beef cow-calf enterprise a producer may not feel so comfortable with is marketing according to Eldon Cole, a field specialist in livestock for University of Missouri Extension.

A GPS collared wolf that is a member of a pack in Washington known to prey on livestock has been injured after it was shot by a rancher.

A GPS collared wolf that is a member of a pack in Washington known to prey on livestock has been injured after it was shot by a rancher.

The cattle herd in Canada fell by 100,000 head with beef cows seeing the largest drop in herd numbers.

Total cattle slaughter is up 3.2 percent for the year to date, led by continued sharply higher female slaughter.

The cattle herd in Canada fell by 100,000 head with beef cows seeing the largest drop in herd numbers.

Cattle on feed, up 4.6 percent, is continuing to hold in the 4-5 percent above a year ago range. 

Most of the “Value-Added” calf sales require that the calves are weaned at least 45 days prior to sale date.

A rancher in Washington is currently under investigation by wildlife officials after he shot at a wolf in self-defense while checking his cattle.

A rancher in Washington is currently under investigation by wildlife officials after he shot at a wolf in self-defense while checking his cattle.

Sheep and cows are able to coexist.

It would appear cattle feeders are betting on the come in the market based on strong cash feeder cattle prices.

Cattle on Feed reaches nearly 11.1 million head, the highest mark reached for August since USDA began the series in 1996.

More than 25,000 lb. of ground beef has been recalled after Cargill Meat Solutions determined that the product was possibly contaminated with E. coli.

Cattle on Feed reaches nearly 11.1 million head, the highest mark reached for August since USDA began the series in 1996.

More than 25,000 lb. of ground beef has been recalled after Cargill Meat Solutions determined that the product was possibly contaminated with E. coli.

A herd of 23 cows and calves were rescued by the Albany Volunteer Fire Department in Wisconsin after being stranded by flood water.

Antimicrobial resistance has received much attention in recent years, as human and animal health officials work to understand the issue.

The fall seasonal trend strongly implies lower beef carcass cutout values after Labor Day through the middle of October.

We are now fully transitioning into a primary calf selling time of the year for cow-calf producers and into an active buying time for stocker producers.

Science to develop Show-Me-Select replacement heifers keeps growing.

A wolf pack in Washington that has preyed on cattle six times in the past 10 months and three times in 30 days will not be euthanized in the near future after activists groups filed a lawsuit.

A wolf pack in Washington that has preyed on cattle six times in the past 10 months and three times in 30 days will not be euthanized in the near future after activists groups filed a lawsuit.

A very cool and wet August is just the latest turn in a rather unusual year for forage production in Oklahoma.

A wolf pack that has killed cattle in Washington has been approved to be handled with lethal action by wildlife officials.

A wolf pack that has killed cattle in Washington has been approved to be handled with lethal action by wildlife officials.

The softening that is taking place in today’s market seems to have more to do with the seasonal price patterns established through supply and demand factors.

Currently, low hay supplies and overstocked pastures are commonplace in the Midwest. Limited forage availability is still a challenge for cattlemen.

The Togo wolf pack has attacked five cattle in the past 10 months, which meets the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's lethal removal policy threshold but there are no current plans to euthanize the wolves.

The Togo wolf pack has attacked five cattle in the past 10 months, which meets the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's lethal removal policy threshold but there are no current plans to euthanize the wolves.

Completing a number of management techniques and vaccine protocols prior to the stress of weaning, comingling and transport will help assemble a calf crop more resilient to disease challenges.

New sire selection rules for Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers improve reliable calving-ease genetics.

An expansion to a Texas Panhandle packing plant will add 800 more head per day in slaughter capacity, primarily for cull cow and bull processing.

Prices for feeder cattle typically decline seasonally for all weight classes after August.

A sting operation in Oklahoma has resulted in the arrest of two cattle thieves.

A sting operation in Oklahoma has resulted in the arrest of two cattle thieves.

Before the fall calving season commences, now is the time to put together and post a protocol for family members and hired employees to follow when they find a cow or heifer starting in the process of calving.

In the end, there appears to be a lot of sources of downside risk and little potential for improved prices.

Cow-calf producers have a number of factors to consider when weighing the decision of retained ownership.